The Tower of S. Vicent eo the Belém Tower was begun in 1514 and was completed in 1519. 

D. Juan II Lisbon considered insufficient defenses and therefore decided that the strengthening of the estuary of the Tejo more effective. 

The king, however, died and D. Manuel, twenty years later, who had it built.
Designed by the architect Francisco de Arruda , Manueline style, the main decorative motif are the crosses of the Order of Christ, fantastic animals, plant motifs, armillary spheres and the royal crest.